Booth recover from Fletcher assault

Running into an in-form Carl Fletcher is arguably a Halifax League cricket team’s worst nightmare and it happened to champions Booth yesterday.

The Triangle batsman, a Goliath of a cricketer, clubbed 165 off just 67 balls to help his side pile up 374-6 at Broad Fold Park.

There was still a dream outcome for the hosts, who showed the composure and quality which has taken them to successive titles. They knocked off the runs to win by six wickets with nine balls to spare.

Although second-placed Booth dropped two points further behind Thornton at the top of the table, skipper Richard Laycock said a 10 point return from a game against a dangerous Triangle side was a favourable outcome, particularly after how things had stood at tea,

Skipper Christian Silkstone made 59 but Triangle were wobbling at 124-4 until Fletcher and Chris Metcalf (75) set about the home attack, adding 181.

Fletcher hit 15 maximums and offered just one difficult chance, to Laycock’s brother Rob on the boundary edge when on 46.

Richard Laycock said: “He’s very powerful and hits the ball a long way.

“Some days on Booth, on the right wicket and with a quick outfield, there is not a lot you can do in the field.”

It was that understanding of the situation that gave Booth the hope that they could average at least a couple of boundaries per over and come out of top.

A 128-run opening stand between Jon Midgley (79) and Steve Senior (25) gave Booth’s reply a strong base and the Laycocks hit 78 apiece to take the home side close before Usman Saghir (52no) thumped successive deliveries from Silkstone for six to settle the runfest in Booth’s favour.

Thornton stretched their lead at the half-way point of the season to four points with a routine eight-wicket win at home to Southowram.

The visitors just reached the 180 mark - worth maximum batting points - but their total must have been a disappointment after a flying start and being 143-3 at one stage.

Greg Soames (5-54) and Ben Burkill (4-19) were the players responsible for pegging them back.